CLASS PROJECT

(1) Research Problem Exercise (individual /10 DUE 10/14 6 p.m. via Collect-It https://catalysttools.washington.edu/collectit/dropbox/hosein/7176): Based on an in-class client presentation, you will draw up paper that defines the problem, develops the context that helps your audience understand why the problem is important, and formulate the possible alternative solutions that should be explored based on the limited evidence from initial sources.

Hanson's clarification based on the Client's presentation: for this deliverable, refer back to what you heard from Bob, do some secondary research on the issue generally, and lay out your focused, singular representation of how you see the client's problem.  Explain WHY you think this is the problem on which to focus.  Then based on your research such as using the library database, news articles, blogs, previous attempts to create similar strategies, and even Shirky, give us a preliminary recommendation as to what you would suggest Bob should do.  And refer to 5-10 sources along the way (APA citation style), providing a bibliography at the end (that should take up a page right there).

Remember, this is a short, fairly simple assignment.  It's supposed to give you a trial run at taking on a real world situation, distilling it in a way that makes sense to you (and that corresponds to some of the client's needs), and applying some light research to it in order to lay out a path for further research and implementation.

Length: 3-5 pages, (includes bibliography that refers to 5-10 sources of any kind, including blogs and media reports, to support your argument, does not include cover page, no abstract necessary, up to you whether it's single or double-spaced).

Booth, Chapter 4: From Questions to a Problem, Chapter 8: Making Claims. Also see Chapter 5 Booth: From problem to Sources.

APA style: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Good writing counts!  Please also refer to the following:
Strunk and White, Chapter II Elementary Principles of Composition and Chapter V: An Approach to Style.

(2) Client Discovery (Individual /10 DUE 10/28 6 p.m. via Collect-It https://catalysttools.washington.edu/collectit/dropbox/hosein/7176):
Based on in-class interaction with potential clients, choose one.  Submit a 1-2 page paper that provides your interpretation (exceptionally, propose your own client, and in addition to 1-2 page paper, also submit 1/2 page explanation why you think this would be a good client):
(a) About your client.
(b) What the client thinks his/her challenge is.
(c) What you think his/her challenge is.  Why?
(d) Frame this challenge as a Research Problem.
(e) What research would you propose doing to solve the problem?
 Based on this deliverable, you will later organize into teams of 3-4 people for the rest of the class.
(3) Preliminary Research Report (*NEW) (Team/10 DUE 11/4 6 p.m. via e-mail to your instructor:
((a) Identify your chosen client, and the members of your team.
(b) Conduct and outline some preliminary research based on the problem you’ve identified, including secondary sources.  Also detail any quantitative or qualitative research tools you would undertake to solve this problem, explaining why those particular methods would help.
(c) State your hypothetical strategy based on the preliminary research.
(d) Describe what next steps you would take, including follow-up interaction with the client.
(e) Provide a bibliography for any secondary research.

(4) Written Proposal (Team /25 DUE 11/18 to the Media Space): This is what you’ll submit to the client.  In 10-15 pages:
(a) Provide a revised Client Discovery section (see Deliverable #2) that includes details of any follow-up interaction you’ve had with the client.
(b) Initial Research: written summary of Deliverable #3 in addition to an annotated bibliography of all primary and secondary research you conducted.
(c) Preliminary Solution/Strategy based on the research you conducted.
(d) Follow-up Research proposal: additional research you would conduct, with an estimated budget and time frame that would lead to a complete solution/strategy.

SAMPLE PROPOSALS FROM 2008 RESEARCH CLASS (not entirely similar to this year's assignment, but writing style, layout, etc. is good).  See "Research 2008 Sample" 1-4 files: http://mediaspace.washington.edu/ms/mediaspace/pg/file/hrhmedia

(5) Multimedia Presentation (Team /25): Let’s see how well you convince others! In 5-10 minutes, create a persuasive digital presentation (slides, animation, or video) that summarizes the essence of your proposal and really helps the client to visualize the problem and the solution.  You’ll deliver the video as a link to the COM 529 Group page of the Media Space.  You and your colleagues will be responsible for viewing each presentation for your section, then submitting to an in-person Q&A, where you’ll critique and grade each other.  The two best presentations from each section will be presented in the final class.

Booth, Chapter 15: Communicating Evidence Visually
Reynolds: Presentation Zen

Participation (Individual /20)
-    3 substantive comments to Flip The Media (or one published post).
-    7 Minute Papers (to Media Space Group Pages for each specific Week).
-    5 In-class participation (verbally or via Twitter)
-    5 Peer feedback (written critique and oral feedback during presentations)